"All you need to know is that the main purpose of Tantai Qinmie's 'gate' is most likely to be those Dao Stones."

Number 66 gave a brief explanation and then brought up the Heaven-Seizing Array.

"The main purpose of the Dao Stone is to set up the 'Heaven-Seizing' formation. The 'Heaven-Seizing' formation is an extremely profound formation that even ordinary kings and nobles cannot set up. However, once it is successfully set up, it can benefit all those involved in karma."

"The most direct effect is to force enlightenment and improve cultivation level."

"Forced enlightenment?" Shen Qian and Zhao Keyi stared wide-eyed in disbelief.

"Why are you two little brats exploring so much? Wait until you have the Dao Stone before you start."

Number 9 yawned and said, "Look, our Hundred Kings Palace also has Dao Stones in its treasury, and it's a stockpile of ten thousand catties. You guys keep it up."

Ten thousand catties?

While Shen Qian was surprised, he immediately opened the exchange system.

After searching, I found "Dao Shi".

One jin of Dao Stone contributes 100 points to the required value.

Hmm, it doesn't look like there are that many.

"Friendly reminder: for Dao Stones to be effective, you'll need at least a hundred catties. You'll also need to find a Marquis who can set up an array for you. Oh, and by the way, you'll need to gather all sorts of rare and precious treasures to assist you. Getting all of them will probably cost you several thousand contribution points..."

As if knowing what Shen Qian was thinking, Number 9 said with a half-smile.

Sorry to bother you.

Shen Qian promptly shut down the exchange system again.

"Heh, regardless of outside opinions, this matter is settled. With Duke Yanshan personally orchestrating the plan, those people in Plum Garden are truly fortunate. I'm genuinely curious whether Tantai Qin will use this opportunity to advance further, or even..."

He didn't say what came next.

But everyone seemed to understand, and a few people couldn't help but sigh, though it was unclear whether it was envy or something else.

He thought more before he sank.

If the benefits extend to all those who have karmic connections with Yanshan Gong, then it's likely that Wang Shuo, Nie Han, and others will also receive a promotion.

If Tantai Qin is indeed as that person guessed, and has already set her sights on becoming a king or noble, then after her breakthrough, even her senior brother, who could have suppressed her, might be in a precarious position.

This means that the balance of power that had been maintained between the Duke of Yanshan and the Marquis of Jingcheng was broken.

It's unclear what the subsequent impact will be.

Unfortunately, even if he were to sink, there was nothing he could do to interfere.

After chatting in the group for a while longer and seeing that there was no more valuable information, I left the group chat and returned to my personal space.

Wan Ning waited patiently, and when Shen Qian returned, she cast an inquiring glance at him.

"I remember there are contribution points rewards for improving cultivation, right?" Shen Qian asked.

"Mr. Shen, you've broken through?" Wan Ning smiled. "Congratulations, yes, you have. Open the detection panel, and it will automatically test your Yuan Qi strength."

Following instructions, Shen Qian found the "Detect" button on his personal interface. After touching it, he felt as if a faint current was drilling into his body.

A moment later, under Shen Qian's watchful gaze, the balance changed from 200 contribution points to 400 points.

"Wan Ning, do you know exactly how the rewards are calculated?" Shen Qian asked in surprise, quite delighted.

He clearly remembered what Wan Ning had said before: a beginner martial artist only gains 10 contribution points when advancing one level.

But when it came to him, it increased 20 times.

"Each advancement for a beginner martial artist comes with a base reward of 10 contribution points, but there is also a multiplier rule: the lower the rank you break through, the higher the multiplier."

"For example, the reward is 20 times the maximum when you go from the first to the second stage, but it's only 15 times the maximum when you go from the second to the third stage, and it will continue to decrease thereafter."

Wan Ning gave a brief explanation, then a strange light flashed in her beautiful eyes, and she covered her mouth and chuckled.

“Mr. Shen, you are truly the most talented person I have ever met. You should be the first person to be admitted to the Hall of Hundred Kings at the first stage of martial arts.”

"The higher the cultivation level, the fewer the rewards?"

Shen Qian didn't pay attention to Wan Ning's praise. He was taken aback at first, but quickly realized what she meant.

This is similar to how the Hall of a Hundred Kings only recruits top geniuses under the age of twenty.

Many things cannot be judged by appearances alone. In the Hall of a Hundred Kings, the lower one's cultivation level upon entering the hall, the greater one's potential may be in some ways.

When Shen Qian first joined the club, everyone was shocked by his cultivation level as a beginner martial artist.

As for Zhao Keyi, although his exact level is unknown, he is at least in the late stage of the initial martial artist realm or has even broken through to the intermediate martial artist realm.

Shen Qian clicked his tongue, feeling that the hidden benefits of this rule were practically made for him, and he could enjoy them to the fullest.

He will soon break through to the third stage of the beginner martial artist level, and then he can collect 150 contribution points.

Just as Chen Qian was about to investigate whether there was anything worth exchanging, he vaguely heard Ding Yi's voice in his ear, so he had to give up the idea, greeted Wan Ning, and hurriedly logged off.

...

When his consciousness returned to reality, Shen Qian opened his eyes and saw Ding Yi looking at him curiously. Shen Qian was about to explain, but Ding Yi shook his head.

I'm hungry.

"Chinese food or Western food?"

"Chinese food, please."

Ding Yi tilted his head slightly and thought for a moment before speaking.

The matter of the Hall of a Hundred Kings could not be told to others, so Ding Yi had no intention of asking further questions, which saved him the trouble of explaining to Shen Qian.

After making a quick decision, the two left the training room side by side.

The afterglow of the setting sun spilled across the campus of Beiwu. Shen Qian held Ding Yi's delicate hand and walked smoothly toward the restaurant located on the other side of the campus.

Perhaps it's because northerners' tastes are so different from those in the south, but after the initial novelty wore off, Shen Qian lost interest in the restaurants outside the school, while he found Beiwu's own canteen quite to his liking.

My dear reader, there's more to this chapter! Please click the next page to continue reading—even more exciting content awaits!